Doug Beghtel/The OregonianTimbers defender Mamadou "Futty'' Danso (middle) will miss 4-to-6 weeks after breaking a bone in his left foot Tuesday during training.

Portland centerback Mamadou "Futty" Danso will miss four to six weeks after he suffered a broken bone in his left foot.

Danso sustained the injury after an on-field encounter with forward Bright Dike during a possession drill in Tuesday's training session.

Danso, 28, started in 23 of the 24 games he appeared in during the 2011 regular season. It's likely that first-year Colombian centerback Hanyer Mosquera will replace Danso in the starting lineup when the Timbers host Philadelphia in their MLS regular season opening game March 12.

Rookie Andrew Jean-Baptiste, the Timbers first-round draft choice in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft, will be the backup. David Horst, who started in 11 of the 16 games he appeared in in 2011, is rehabilitating his surgically repaired hip and isn't expected to be available until the summer.